Automatic rifle



April 14, 1925.

J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC RIFLE Filed Jan. 6, 1923 Patented Apr. 14,1925.

. JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH.

AUTOMATIC RIFLE.

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, JoHN M. BROWNING, a citizen of the United states,residing in Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Rifles, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

The invention relates to additions and improvements in automatic rifles,of the class shown and described in the Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, No. 1,293,022, granted to me on February at, 1919.

The invention generally relates to automatic rifles in which alloperations of the breech mechanism, except that of the trigger, areautomatically effected, and in which, without change of the form orweight of the rifle, it is adapted for firing modern highly chargedmilitary ammunitlon.

The invention specially relates to novel additions in that class ofgas-operated magazine rifles in which a vent in the barrel leads intothe gas cylinder mounted below and alongside of the barrel, in whichcylinder the powder gases may expand, the forward end of the cylinderbeing closed and the rear end of the same forming a block with anextension into the breech casing detachablv secured therein.

The powder gases expanding in the gas cylinder and exerting pressure inrearward direction upon a movable piston therein, drive the same and itspiston rod to the rear, and thus also drive rearward the action-slide ofthe rifle attached to said piston rod.

The action-slide enters into the frame of the rifle and, whilebifurcated to clear the cart *idge magazine in the usual magazine seatwithin the frame, it has an integral cross bar both at its forward andat its rear end.

The action-slide reciprocates lengthwise in the frame and its movementsare trans mitted to the breech mechanism of the rifle, thus actuatingsaid mechanism. The rearward movement of the action-slide under thepressure of the powder gases compresses a reaction-spring. and theexpansion of said spring effects the forward movement of theaction-slide.

All these parts are arranged as usual and in the manner shown anddescribed in my prior patent hereinbefore referred to.

.Vhen the rifle is in use by a party in a trench, or in the field, itshould be kept closed against rain, snow or dirt. For this'reason it isnecessary that rifles originally manufactured with the heretofore usualunprotected opening in the frame in rear of the.

firing chamber of the barrel, through which the cartridge shells andunfired cartridges are thrown out during the rearward opening movementof the breech block, should be altered and have added to them a deviceby which entrance of disturbing foreign matter into the frame will bemade impossible; this must be done, however, with the least possiblechanges in construction and operation of the interior mechanism of therifle.

The object of the present improvement and addltlon is to provide apreviously manufactured rifle of this class with a thereon, the forwardarm being lowered and a cover plate connected with said arm being alsolowered, and the actionslide being near its rear position.

Fig. 2 is a side view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but'with the reararm of the twoarmed lever depressed and the forward arm and the coverplate raised, and the actionslide in its rearmost position.

3 is asimilar view of the rifle frame, showing the rear arm of thetwo-armedlever depressed and its forward arm and the covmoved :somedistance forward.

Fig. a shows the two-armed lever with the cover plate pivoted thereto,detached, in a side view and a rear view.

or plate raised, but with the action-slide slide, detached, and a topviewof the rear portion of said action-slide.

It isafact, and it must be obvious to parties learned in the art ofmanufacturing firearms, that to add a device tojpreviously' fullymanufactured rifles without changing the interior mechanisms of the sameto any great degree is a much more difficult task than to manufacturenew rifles in which members of the interior mechanism may be speciallyconstructed and adapted to [CO-YUP erate with the novel improvement.

3 7 As shown in Figs}, 2, and 3-3, in the present improvement, at-we-arn'ied lever 10 is pivotally attached upon the exterior surface ofthe right-hand side wall of the rifle. The

inner and the outer surfaces of this lever 10 are perfectly plain fromthe front and rearward to the pivot hole 10 of the lever and for quite adistance beyond said hole. The pivot hole 10 in the thin lever 10 hasabove and below its center two grooves, and in the side wall of therifle frame a similar pivot hole is cut with sim lar rectangulargroovesabove and below itsv center; these holes, that n the leverand that inthe side wall ofthe frame, correspond exactlywith each other. As shownin Fig. 6 the pivot for the lever 10 is carried by a separate leverfastener 13. wh ch has on its inner surface an integral inwardlyprojecting pivot 13 and this pivot carried by the fastener is providedat its inner end with two splineshaped projections,v one in front andone in rear of its center, these projections are thin and leave underthem a considerable portion of the pivot cylindrical in form. a

With the lever 10 held against the side of the frame in the position inwhich the pivot hole 16* in the lever corresponds with the hole in theside of; the frame, and, with the fastener 13 turned on its axis throughan angle of the projections on the inner end of the pivot 13 of thefastener will readily passinward through the grooves hr the lever 10 andthrough those in the side of the frame. if then the fastener 131s turneduntil it occupies the position relative.

to the lever 10 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the fastener 13 will belocked against outward movement by the engagement of the projections onthe. end of its pivot 13 with the inner surface of the side wall of theframe.

At its rear end the fastener 13 has a slight circular projection on itsinner surface, formed by an indentation of the metal of the fastener,and the lever 10 has a corresponding small hole with which theprojection of the fastener 13 engages, thereby holdingthe fastenerfrictionally in its position upon the lever 10, but allowing the lever10 and the fastener 13 to vibrate together upon the side of the rifleframe.

Slightly in rear of said small hole the lever 10 carries on its innersurface an integral cylindrical laterally projecting stud 11, and acorresponding segmental slot .11 is cut through the wall of the frame insuch a manner, that, when the lever 10is attached to the side of theframe as hereinbefore explained, the stud 11 extends through the slot 11into the interior of the rifle frame and projects inward adistance'beyond the inner surface of said wall, for they engagement ofsaid stud 11 by the action-slide 8 and for the consequent co-operationbetween the action-slide 8 and the lever 10.

As seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the rear portion of the lever 10 isvertically considerably broader than the forward portion of said lever;by this construction the lever 10 en tirely covers the segmental slot 11in the side wallof the frame when the rear portion of the lever '10 isin its lowest position, see Figs. 2 and 3,'as well as when said rearportion of. the lever is in its highest position, see Fig. 1, and inthis manner the lever 10 positively prevents entrance of any disturbingmatter into the frame'of the rifle.

Near the end of its forward portion the lever 10 has a hole for the stud12 of the cover plate 12; as clearly shown in Fig. 7 the cover-plate 12carries the stud 12? on its outer surface and it also ca "ries on itsupper edge an inwardly projecting rib 12; when the lever 10 and theplate 12 are operatively assembled, the cover-plate 12 is pivotally anddetachably connected with the forward portion of the lever 10. hen saidforward portion of the lever 10 is in its low est position, see Flg. 1,the cover-plate '12 also is lowered and thereby has, uncovered theejection-opening in the rifle frame, whereas, when the forward portionof the lever 10 is raised, see Figs. 2 and 3, the cover-plate 12, alsois raised and thereby has covered the ejection-opening in the rifleframe; in both of these positions the longitudinal inwardly projectingrib 12 holds said cover-plate parallel to the ejbction opening byengaging either the upper or the lower edge of said opening. 7

At its'rear end the lever 10 is provided at the top with an outwardlyprojecting finger piece 10 by pressure against which with his thumb theshooter may at will raise or dopress the rear portion of the lever 10,and thus depress or raise the forward portion of the lever 10 andthereby uncover or cover the ejection-opening in the frame.

Below the outwardly projecting finger piece 10", the rear end of thelever 10 has a low rounded inwardly projecting longitudinal rib, formedby an indentation in the surface of the lever, and in the outer surfaceof the rifle frame a corresponding longitudinal groove is cut; this riband this groove are parallel to the upper edge of the lever 10, see Fig.1, and serve to frictionally hold the lever 10 in its horizontalposition in which its rear portion is raised, and its front portiondepressed, and the cover plate 12 i lowered and thereby theejection-opening is uncovered.

The inwardly projecting stud 11 on the rear portion of the lever 10 isso located that, when this portion of the lever and with it the stud 11are raised, the stud 11 stands just above the upper edge of the rearportion of the action-srlide 8 reciprocatorily mounted within the frame,and therefore, the stud does not interfere with either the free rearwardor forward stroke of the action-slide 8, see Fig. 1; but when theaction-slide 8 is in the rearward position, the stud 11 may be lowered,by depressing the rear portion of the outside lever 10, and therebyraising the forward portion and with it the cover-plate 12 so as tocover the ejection-opening.

This downward movement of the rear portion of the lever 10 and of thestud 11, when the action-slide 8 is near its rearmost position, is madepossible by a recess 9 cut in the right-hand portion of the action-slide8 into which the stud 11 may enter, see Fig. 1; the rear wall of therecess 9 is substantially vertical and of such a form that when the studhas entered said recess it positively locks the action-slide 8 in itsrear position, thereby making it impossible to fire a shot while theforward portion of the lever 10 is raised and the ejection-opening iscovered by the cover-plate 12. In this position of the parts, thetrigger 5 of the rifle may be pulled without producing any effect.

If now the rear portion of the lever 10 is raised, and with it the stud11, the forward portion of the lever 10 is lowered and with it islowered the cover-plate 12 so as t-o'uncover the ejection-opening, andat the same time the stud 11, rising out of the recess 9 in theaction-slide 8, frees said action-slide and allows it to be forcedforward to close and lock the breech closing part, and thus adapt therifle for being fired. Even when the firing mechanism of the rifle is inthe cocked condition, but with the ejection-opening still remainingcovered, the stud 11 on the lever 10 having fully entered into therecess 9 in the top of the action-slide 8, positively locks saidaction-slide 8 as hereinbefore described. If new the rear portion of thelever 10 is raised to uncover the ejectionopening, the sear 6, the pointof which remains raised in the recess 8 in the under side of theintegral rear cross bar of the action-slide 8, at once takes its holdagainst the cooking shoulder 8 of the action-slide, thereby causing thesear 6 and the trigger 5 to become again operative.

In order that the sear point may freely rise in front of the cookingshoulder when the trigger is released, the rear angle formed at thejunction of the rear wall of the recess 9 with the top of theaction-slide 8 is rounded over, and so shaped that the lowering of thestud 11 into said recess, when the rear portion of the lever 10 isdepressed, cams backthe action-slide 8 a short distan-cc and therebyinsures an endwise clearance for the raised sear point to take its holdagainst the cocking shoulcer S of the action-slide, thus making the searas well as the trigger operative for at will firing a shot when thebreech of the barrel of the rifle is closed and locked.

When the action-slide 8 is moved to its forward position, the rearportion of the lever 10 and the stud 11 may be lowered, because then thestud 11 is some distance in rear of the rearend of the action-slidewhich, therefore, does not preventthe lowering of the'stud 11 and of therear portion of the lever 10. At its right-hand side the rear end of theaction-slide is provided with a recess 9 inclining in the forward andupward direction, see Figs. 8 and 9; 7

when, during its rearward movement, the end of the action-slideencounters the lower stud 11 of the lever 10, the stud 11 will entersaid recess and, by the incline of the same, the stud 11' will be forcedupward so as to resume again its position above the top edge of theaction-slide.

As indicated in Fig. 5, the lever 10 is slightly curved or bow-shaped inits length, and, as shown in Fig. 6, the le-ver fastener 13 is alsocurved or bow-shaped; both the lever 10 and the fastener 13 are elasticand, when pressed from the out-side against the surface of the wall ofthe rifle frame, these parts readily become straightened, and in thatcondition they are frictionally held in their raised or lowered positionto either of which they may have been moved manually. 7

While I have herein described the novel improved device as applied topreviously manufactured automatic rifles of the class shown in my priorpatent hereinbefore referred to, it will be understood that it is alsoapplicable to rifles'of this class in process of manufacture and toother classes of automatic firearms.

I claim: I

1. In an automatic firearm, the combination of a frame having anejection opening, a firing member, and means for covering 7 saidejection-opening and simultaneously locking said member against firingmove ment, said means comprising an. element mounted for movement on theoutside of said frame and having av projection extending into said framefor co-operation i-vith said firing member to positively lock'the Sameagainst firing movement while the ber mounted for longitudinalIGCiPlOCEltOlffmovement in said frame, cover plate for said openlng, anda lever for actuating said cover plate, said lever, being mounted formovement on the outside of said frame and having a lateral stud thereonextending through a slot in th frame for cooperation with said member tolock the same in rearward position while said ejection-opening iscovered. r

4. In an automatic firearm, the combination of a frame havinganejection-opening and having a segmental slot in a side wall,

a member mounted for longitudinal reciprooatory movement in said frame,and means for covering said opening comprising a lever j of said member.

mounted for swinging movement on the outside face of said side wall andhaving an integral stud thereon projecting through said slot into theframefor co-operation with said member to lock the same in a rearwardposition while said ejection-opening is covered,'said lever being of awidth to close said slot in all operative positions of the lever. Y

5, A firearm, comprising a frame having an ejection-opening, a membermounted for longitudinal reciprocatory movement in said frame, acover-plate for said opening, a lever for actuating said cover-plate,said lever being arranged for movement on the outside of said frameandhaving a lateral l stud projecting inside of said frame and into thepath of said member when said opening is'c'overed, and a cam surface onsaid member for co-operation with said stud whereby the.ejection-opening is automatically uncovered during the rearward stroke6. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having an ejection-opening,a member mounted for longitudinal reciprocatory movement in said frame,a cover plate for said opening, a two-armed lever arranged for movementon the outside of said frame and having its forward arm connected tosald cover-plate whereby the cover-plate can be manually moved to coversaid opening when the member is in a forward position, and means forautomatically moving said lever and the connected cover-plate to uncoversaid opening during the rearward stroke of said member, said meanscomprising, aninward projeotionon the rear arm of said lever extendinginto the path of said member when said openingis covered, and

a forward and upward, incline at the rear end of the member.

' 7. In an automatic firearm, the combination of a frame having anejection-opening therein, a member mounted for longitudinalreciprocatory movement in said frame, and in nu ally uncovering saidejection-opening, said means comprising a lever mounted forv movement onthe outside of said frame, a stud on "i lever projecting inside saidframe and, TvllQO. said ejection-opening is coveredwhile said member isin a rearward position, ariged to co-operate withsaidmember to ice r thesame rearward, said stud, when said opening is covered wnile the memberis in a forward position, being also arranged to co-opera'tev with a camsurface at the rear end of said member for automatically uncovering saidopening during the rearward stroke of said member.

8'. In an automaticfirearm, the combination of a frame having anejection-opening, V

9. In an automatic firearm, the combination of a frame having anejection-opening,

a member mounted for longitudinal recipro catory movement in said frameandhaving a locking recess, a cooking shoulder on said member, a searhaving a sear point for en gagement with said shoulder to hold saidmember in rearward cocked position, and

operable means for covering and C ill) means for covering saidejection-opening and simultaneously locking said member in suchposition, said means comprising a lever mounted for movement on theoutside of said frame and having a rounded; stud projecting into saidframe and arranged to engagethe rear wall of said locking recess in themember with a camming action as said lever is moved to .cover theejection-opening,

thereby causing a clearance between said cocking shoulder and said searpoint and simultaneously locking said member rear- Ward while saidopening is covered.

10. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having an ejection-opening,means for covering and uncovering said opening, a lever for actuatingsaid means, and means for pivotally and detachably securing said leverto said frame, said means being con structed and arranged to permit aportion thereof to be passed through registering openings in said leverand said frame, respectively, when said means is angularly displacedfrom its normal position, and thereafter, by rotation back to its normalposition, securing said lever to said'frame, said means furthercomprising a device co-operating with said lever for frictionallyholding said means and said lever against relative rotation, whenassembled.

11. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having an ejection-opening,a closure for said opening, a lever for actuating said closure and meansfor pivotally and detachably securing said lever to said frame, saidmeans comprising apivot member passing through registering opening insaid lever and in said frame, respectively, and having radialprojections at its inner portion for co-operation with the insidesurface of said frame to secure said lever to said frame, and alsohavinga resilient lateral arm at its outer portion, said arm beingformed with a rounded projection engaging a recess in said lever forfrictionally holding said lever QIICl'PlVOi) member against relativerotation, when as sembled, but permitting said rotation fordis-assembling the parts.

12. In a firearm, the combination of a frame having an ejection-opening,a cover for said opening, a lever for actuating said cover, and meansfor pivotally and detachably securing said lever to said framecomprising a pivot member having radial projections at its inner end andconstructed and arranged, when it is angularly displaced a given amountfrom its normal position, to be inserted into registering openingshaving grooves corresponding to said projection and formed in said leverand said frame, respectively, a distance suflieient to cause said innerend with the projections thereon to pass inwardly beyond the innersurface of said frame, said member comprising resilient means placedunder tension by the act of inserting said member, whereby after saidmember is rotated back to its normal position, it is frictionally heldagainst rotation relative to said lever and simultaneously presses saidlever against the ad jacent surface of the frame, thereby frictionallyholding said lever and said cover in either their operative or'theirinoperative position.

This specification signed and witnessed this 28th day of December, A. D.1922.

JOHN M. BROvVN IN G.

In the presence of D. SELLIQK, T. S. Bnownnvo.

